Manufacturing is currently going through an unprecedented transformation, known as Industry 4.0. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies, this movement seeks to make product processes more agile and productive.
These technologies include low-power computing that facilitates AI at the edge, industrial image processing systems and HPC servers – collectively they form the digital infrastructure necessary for intelligent automation and data analytics.
Industrial Cameras
Camera-based systems play an essential role in automated processes – particularly quality assurance during and post production. Their reliability must withstand extreme temperatures, pressures, vibrations and low or fluctuating light.
Industrial cameras are purposefully created to meet this need. They can be used to oversee production cycles, track units on conveyors or detect ultra-miniature components.
Industrial environments demand cameras that are rugged and versatile. To meet EMI standards, these cameras must pass image quality tests using the EMVA 1288 protocol as well as functional testing such as thermal cycling functionality testing and ingress tests; additionally, Triton and Atlas IP67 cameras feature adjustable threshold voltage for reliable triggering in noisy industrial environments.
Machine Vision Systems
Machine Vision Systems (MVSs) use advanced technologies to perform inspections, measurements, and other functions that would normally require human inspectors. MVSs are more cost-effective in terms of defect reduction, increased yield rate, regulatory compliance compliance costs savings for companies as well.
Manufacturing requires products and product parts be labeled with machine-readable codes for traceability purposes, using machine vision technology to decode these symbologies to verify if they meet necessary standards and measure distances between objects through “gauging.”
Companies using predictive maintenance technology can prevent component shortages that halt production or even shut down a plant, and save on repair and maintenance costs by taking immediate corrective actions before the machine or component breaks down completely. It can also identify signals of equipment malfunction and take preventive steps before something fails – potentially saving thousands on repairs and maintenance expenses as well as decreasing energy and chemical usage by identifying ineffective processes – leading to reduced company expenditures overall.
Image Processing
Image processing refers to the conversion of an image into digital form in order to gain useful information or enhance it. It’s a form of signal processing that transforms input data into output that has new significance.
One of the primary applications for industrial image processing is quality inspection. By employing smart quality inspection, damaged products can be quickly identified and removed from production lines, thus increasing productivity.
Image processing algorithms typically convert an image into a matrix where each entry represents the intensity of individual pixels in an image, and multiply each coordinate to transform into new image data.
Image processing can also be used for object recognition. This involves applying multiple algorithms that detect objects within images – whether rule-based or machine learning-based; though often these rules can be complex and challenging to implement reliably.
Industry 4.0
Smart manufacturing or Industry 4.0 technologies have reached maturity to become more accessible to small and mid-sized manufacturers. Cyber-physical systems that support new business models have emerged through these advances.
Implementing these systems enables manufacturers to increase flexibility, productivity, reduce costs and enhance quality. For instance, automated monitoring of production processes with industrial cameras enables greater asset utilization so human workers can focus on more value-adding tasks.
Improved efficiency and decreased waste translate to revenue increases for manufacturers. Other benefits of improved efficiency and reduced waste for the manufacturer include increased customer and field service support due to access to more information, faster response times, remote diagnosing capabilities of issues remotely diagnosed remotely; all this reduces travel needs as well as maintenance costs; in certain situations virtual and augmented reality can even replace human inspections for manual inspections, further decreasing errors while simultaneously improving product quality.
Deepak Wadhwani has over 20 years experience in software/wireless technologies. He has worked with Fortune 500 companies including Intuit, ESRI, Qualcomm, Sprint, Verizon, Vodafone, Nortel, Microsoft and Oracle in over 60 countries. Deepak has worked on Internet marketing projects in San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange Country, Denver, Nashville, Kansas City, New York, San Francisco and Huntsville. Deepak has been a founder of technology Startups for one of the first Cityguides, yellow pages online and web based enterprise solutions. He is an internet marketing and technology expert & co-founder for a San Diego Internet marketing company.